using the previously mentioned guidelines.
A 2-6mm diameter rubber crumb was incorporated into the existing rootzone, (the pitch is constructed from native soil, sandy loam, with grid drainage at 5m centres), at an initial rate of 3.2 kg/m2
weeks later, with an application of 1.8kg/m2
topdressing. The total applied was therefore 5kg/m2
followed, six applied as a .
In the intervening six years since the trial plots were established the pitch has been subject to approximately 260 matches and is also used as a training facility twice per week during the football season. This would equate to approximately 644 games. The 2m2
plots were located
using the original study, and the turf grass was removed. The central square metre of the plot was excavated to a depth of 100mm and the soil removed. The area was then excavated a further 100mm and the two profiles kept separate. Figure 1 shows a section
taken from the first 100mm depth and the rubber crumb can be seen in the top 50mm of the soil. This would prove to be where the majority of the crumb was located.
All the arisings were air dried
over a period of time and the soil was then passed in stages through sieves from 6mm down to 0.5mm and, at each stage, the rubber particulate removed. This was then weighed and
the total figure allowed for a comparison to be made to the original application rate. The total rubber crumb
material recovered from the 1m2 plot was 4.25 kgs, representing a loss of 750gms from the initial application of 5kg/m2
. The rubber crumb recovered
was also compared to a new sample with respect to particle size. The particle size distributions are shown in figure 1.
The recovered crumb was also compared to new crumb to allow a comparison between particle size and to estimate potential degradation. Figure 2.
Conclusion
While every effort was taken to recover all of the rubber crumb particulate, some of the “missing” material has possibly broken down to a sieve size smaller than 0.5mm and was not recoverable, whilst a percentage may well have moved deeper in to the soil profile although, as stated earlier, this would be unlikely. It would seem the loss due to degradation could account for the difference. While excavating the plot, and in particular the 100- 200mm soil profile, it was noted that the rubber crumb was still situated in the original tine holes (figure 2). The relatively small amount of crumb recovered
IRRIGATION Design
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Figure 2 showing the tine holes still complete with rubber crumb
in the 100-200mm depth of soil would support the premise that the rubber is relatively immobile in the soil. The new crumb was sieved in the same way and was found to have an overall greater particle size, approximately 65% of the particles being retained by a 3mm sieve, compared to the old crumb where more than 90% were smaller than 2mm. This shows the amount of degradation taking place and, while some studies have shown that the rubber particle degrades with a half life of between 33 and 77 days when mixed with soil, it would seem that the rubber particulate will remain in the soil profile for a considerable period.
While the crumb remains in the soil there may well be benefits associated with rooting structure, however, given that the crumb is designed to protect the upper parts of the grass plant it would seem that this benefit is no longer applicable and, therefore, the
recommendations that dressings should be carried out every two years if protection is the aim of the turf grass manager would be valid. However, given the slow breakdown of the particulate it would seem that repeated applications over a number of years would result in a steady accumulation of the rubber crumb in the top 100mm of the soil. Further study would be required to investigate the soils potential for absorption of the rubber crumb, the rate of degradation and the effects of the ball on a surface which may consist of a large amount of rubber particles.
Irrigation supplies
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RUBBER CRUMB
The use of RUBBER CRUMB on grass as top dressing has been granted a PATENT in the UK and Ireland under Number EP0788301B1
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ARE THE LICENSEES with CROWN III rubber crumb Turf
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